Stevie will look after himself because all the lads know how to look after themselves these days

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish

It is a year since Gerrard was struck down by a groin problem which required ­surgery and kept him out of action for six months.

But the Liverpool skipper, who turns 32 in May, has overcome a bitterly ­frustrating spell with injuries to steer Dalglish’s side to within sight of a memorable Cup ­double.

Dalglish’s final appearance for ­Liverpool came at the age of 39 when he appeared as a sub towards the end of the 1989-90 ­campaign.

And Kop icon Dalglish sees no reason why Gerrard, who smashed a hat-trick against Everton on Tuesday, cannot do the same – if he steers clear of injury.

Liverpool boss Dalglish said: “Stevie will look after himself because all the lads know how to look after themselves these days.

“If anybody wants to be a player at that age there is an important role to be played off the pitch as well as on it.

“You don’t know where your career is going to go from one day to the next, it doesn’t matter what age you are.

“There are some young lads who were finished at 20 due to injury. Whatever is going to happen, whilst he is here he will be a fantastic asset for us and give us the best service he is capable of giving ­anybody like he has done so far.

“We’ll go along with that and manage Steven as well he manages himself.

“I played at 39, but that is stretching it because it was towards the end of the season against Derby when I came on as substitute.”

Gerrard helped inspire Liverpool to lift the Carling Cup last month and has now set his sights on securing the FA Cup.

They entertain Stoke in the quarter-­finals tomorrow knowing victory will book a Wembley return in the last four. But Stoke frustrated Liverpool when they secured a goalless draw on their last visit to Anfield two months ago.

And Dalglish is expecting another tight encounter against last season’s FA Cup finalists.

He added: “Everybody in the last eight has the same aim and that’s to get to Wembley.

“Whether you have been there before – Stoke got to the final last year – ­everybody will be looking forward to getting there again.

“And the ones that haven’t been will want to get there for the first time.

“Stoke made it difficult for us and got men behind the ball when they were last here.

“There’s nothing wrong with the way they play. They can play with any style they want, just like any club can.

“It has been really effective for them. It has been rewarded, they got to the ­final of the FA Cup last season and had a great run in the Europa League.

“I don’t have a problem with how they play. I have a problem playing against them, but we aren’t going to be critical of their style. They have done very well.”